Organic light-emitting display device and method of fabricating the same

ABSTRACT

An organic light-emitting display device includes a substrate defining an emission area and a non-emission area; an insulating layer on the substrate and having at least two grooves being defined at a portion of the insulating layer corresponding to the non-emission area; a first electrode on the insulating layer at a portion of the insulating layer corresponding to the emission area; an auxiliary electrode on the insulating layer and spaced apart from the first electrode, the auxiliary electrode being on at least a portion of the insulating layer having the at least two grooves; a bank pattern on portions of the first and auxiliary electrodes; a barrier on the auxiliary electrode and separated from the bank pattern, the barrier being formed of a same material as the bank pattern; an organic light-emitting layer on the first electrode; and a second electrode on the organic light-emitting layer.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No.10-2016-0083120, filed in Korea on Jun. 30, 2016, and Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2016-0121715, filed in Korea on Sep. 22, 2016, bothof which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as iffully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an organic light-emitting displaydevice and a method of fabricating the same.

Description of Related Art

In response to the development of the information society, demand forvarious types of display devices to display images has increased.Recently, a range of display devices, such as liquid crystal display(LCD) devices, plasma display panels (PDPs), and organic light-emittingdisplay devices, have come into widespread use. Each of these displaydevices includes a display panel.

A display panel has thin-film transistors (TFTs) provided in respectivepixel areas corresponding thereto, and a specific pixel area in thedisplay panel is controlled by a flow of current in the TFTs. Each ofthe TFTs includes a gate and source/drain electrodes.

An organic light-emitting display device has a light-emitting layersandwiched between two electrodes. When electrons migrate to thelight-emitting layer from one electrode and holes migrate to thelight-emitting layer from the other electrode, the electrons recombinewith the holes, thereby generating excitons. Thereafter, the excitonstransit from an excited state to a ground state, thereby emitting light.

There are, in general, limited problems when the organic light-emittingdisplay device has a small display area. However, when the organiclight-emitting display device has a large display area, uniformluminance cannot be maintained, and a difference in luminance levelsbetween a peripheral area and a central area may occur. Moreparticularly, when current flows from the cathode of an organicelectroluminescent device or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) tothe peripheral area and the central area, the current arrives at alocation remote from the portion at which the current is introduced.Here, a voltage drop is caused by the resistance of the cathode of theOLED so that a difference in luminance levels between the peripheralarea and the central area occurs.

In a related art organic electroluminescent display device, a differencein luminance between the peripheral portion and the central portion dueto the resistance of the top electrode of the OLED significantly reducesluminance uniformity. Thus, a compensation for the reduced luminanceuniformity is required.

To overcome the problem of voltage drop, an auxiliary electrode (or anauxiliary line) in contact with the cathode has been introduced.However, the contact between the cathode and the auxiliary electrode maybe obstructed by organic material formed on the auxiliary electrode. Inaddition, a portion of the organic material may be thicker than theother portions, thereby causing leakage current.

Recently, a barrier rib has been used on the auxiliary electrode toovercome this problem. However, an additional process of forming thebarrier rib must be added, which is problematic. Accordingly, there is aneed for a solution that can bring the cathode into contact with theauxiliary electrode without any additional processes.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to anorganic light-emitting display device and a method of fabricating thesame that substantially obviate one or more of the problems due tolimitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an organiclight-emitting display device able to prevent a voltage drop caused by aresistance of a cathode in a large area organic light-emitting displaydevice, prevent occurrence of a leakage current, and simplify a processat the same time, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Additional features and aspects will be set forth in the descriptionthat follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or maybe learned by practice of the inventive concepts provided herein. Otherfeatures and aspects of the inventive concepts may be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription, or derivable therefrom, and the claims hereof as well asthe appended drawings.

To achieve these and other aspects of the inventive concepts, asembodied and broadly described, an organic light-emitting display devicecomprises a substrate defining an emission area and a non-emission area;an insulating layer on the substrate and having at least two groovesbeing defined at a portion of the insulating layer corresponding to thenon-emission area; a first electrode on the insulating layer at aportion of the insulating layer corresponding to the emission area; anauxiliary electrode on the insulating layer and spaced apart from thefirst electrode, the auxiliary electrode being on at least a portion ofthe insulating layer having the at least two grooves; a bank pattern onportions of the first and auxiliary electrodes; a barrier on theauxiliary electrode and separated from the bank pattern, the barrierbeing formed of a same material as the bank pattern; an organiclight-emitting layer on the first electrode; and a second electrode onthe organic light-emitting layer.

In another aspect, a method of fabricating an organic light-emittingdisplay device, the method comprises providing an insulating layer on asubstrate, the substrate defining an emission area and a non-emissionarea, and the insulating layer having at least two grooves at a portionof the insulating layer corresponding to a non-emission area of thesubstrate; providing a first electrode and an auxiliary electrode on theinsulating layer, the auxiliary electrode being spaced apart from thefirst electrode and being on the insulating layer at a portion of theinsulating layer having the at least two grooves; providing a bankpattern on portions of the first and auxiliary electrodes and a barrieron the auxiliary electrode; providing an organic light-emitting layer onthe first electrode; and providing a second electrode on the organiclight-emitting layer.

In another aspect, a method of fabricating an organic light-emittingdisplay device, the method comprises providing an insulating layer on asubstrate, the substrate defining an emission area and a non-emissionarea; providing a first electrode and an auxiliary electrode pattern onthe insulating layer, the auxiliary electrode pattern being spaced apartfrom the first electrode; providing a bank pattern material on the firstelectrode and the auxiliary electrode pattern; patterning the bankpattern material with a mask such that a bank pattern and a barrier areformed at a portion corresponding to a blocking portion of the mask, andthe auxiliary electrode pattern is exposed at a portion corresponding toa transmitting portion of the mask; etching the exposed portion of theauxiliary electrode pattern using the bank pattern as a mask to providean auxiliary electrode and to expose a portion of the insulating layer;etching the insulating layer to form at least two grooves therein usingthe auxiliary electrode pattern as a mask; and removing a portion of thebank pattern to expose a portion of the first electrode; providing anorganic light-emitting layer on the exposed portion of the firstelectrode; and providing a second electrode on the organiclight-emitting layer.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the inventive concepts asclaimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure andtogether with the description serve to explain various principles. Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an organic light-emittingdisplay device according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an organic light-emittingdisplay device according to another example embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an organic light-emitting displaydevice according to a first example embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-B of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of region X of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating bank patterns and a barrier rib accordingto another example embodiment;

FIGS. 7 to 10 are schematic views illustrating a manufacturing methodfor forming bank patterns and a barrier rib according to a first exampleembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an organic light-emittingdisplay device according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of region Y of FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13 to 16 are views illustrating a method for manufacturing theorganic light-emitting display device according to the second exampleembodiment;

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating a placement relationship between asubpixel and an auxiliary electrode according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a plan view illustrating a placement relationship between asubpixel and an auxiliary electrode according to another exampleembodiment; and

FIG. 19 is a plan view illustrating a placement relationship between asubpixel and an auxiliary electrode according to another exampleembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. The embodiments set forth herein are provided for illustrativepurposes to fully convey the concept of the present disclosure to aperson skilled in the art. The present disclosure should not beconstrued as being limited to these embodiments and may be embodied inmany different forms. In the drawings, the size and thickness of thedevice may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Throughout thisdocument, the same reference numerals and symbols will be used todesignate the same or like components.

The advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of therealization thereof will be apparent with reference to the accompanyingdrawings and detailed descriptions of the embodiments. The presentdisclosure should not be construed as being limited to the embodimentsset forth herein and may be embodied in many different forms. Rather,these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will bethorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the presentdisclosure to a person skilled in the art. The scope of the presentdisclosure shall be defined by the appended claims. Throughout thisdocument, the same reference numerals and symbols will be used todesignate the same or like components. In the drawings, the sizes andrelative sizes of layers and areas may be exaggerated for the sake ofclarity.

It will be understood that when an element or a layer is referred to asbeing “on” another element or layer, not only can it be “directly on”the other element or layer, but it can also be “indirectly on” the otherelement or layer via an “intervening” element or layer. In contrast,when an element or a layer is referred to as being “directly on” anotherelement or layer, it will be understood that no intervening element orlayer is interposed.

Spatially relative terms such as “below,” “beneath,” “under,” “lower,”“above,” and “upper” may be used herein for the ease of description ofthe relationship of an element or components to another element or othercomponents as illustrated in the drawings. The spatially relative termsshould be construed as terms encompassing different orientations of theelement in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted inthe drawings. For example, when elements illustrated in the drawings areturned over, an element described as “below,” “beneath,” or “under”another element would then be oriented “above” the other element. Thus,the example term “below,” “beneath,” or “under” can encompass bothorientations of above and below.

Terminologies used herein are for the purpose of describing specificembodiments and are not intended to be limiting the present disclosure.Descriptions of components in the singular form are intended to includedescriptions of components in the plural form, unless explicitlydescribed to the contrary. It will be understood that terms “comprise,”“include,” and their variations used herein preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other components, steps, operations and/orelements.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an organic light-emittingdisplay device 10 according to an example embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the organic light-emitting display device 10according to the example embodiment may include a substrate 100, a gatedriver GD, a plurality of gate lines GL, a data driver DD, a pluralityof data lines DL, auxiliary electrodes 130, and a plurality of subpixelsSP.

The substrate 100 may be an insulating substrate made of plastic, glass,ceramic, and/or like. If the substrate 100 is made of the plastic, thesubstrate 100 may have flexible characteristics. The material of thesubstrate 100 is not limited thereto, and the substrate 100 may be madeof a metal or other material.

In addition, the gate driver GD sequentially provides scan signals tothe plurality of gate lines GL. For example, the gate driver GD suppliesthe scan signals to the plurality of gate lines GL in response to acontrol signal supplied from a control circuit, e.g., a timingcontroller or the like (not shown). Thereafter, the subpixels SP areselected by the scan signals and sequentially receive data signals.

The plurality of gate lines GL is disposed on the substrate 100 andextend in a first direction. The gate lines GL include a plurality ofscan lines SL1 to SLn. The plurality of scan lines SL1 to SLn areconnected to the gate driver GD and receive scan signals.

In addition, the data driver DD supplies data signals to data lines DL1to DLm selected from the data lines DL in response to a control signalsupplied from an outside such as a timing controller (not shown). Thedata signals supplied to the data lines DL1 to DLm is supplied to thesubpixels SP selected by the scan signals whenever the scans signal aresupplied to the scan lines SL1 to SLn. Accordingly, the subpixels SP arecharged with a voltage corresponding to the data signal and emit lighthaving brightness corresponding to the voltage.

Here, the data lines DL are disposed in a second direction crossing thegate lines GL. The data lines DL include a plurality of data lines DL1to DLm and a driving power line VDDL. The plurality of data lines DL1 toDLm are connected to the data driver DD and receive data signals fromthe data driver DD. In addition, the driving power line VDDL isconnected to a first external power supply VDD and receives drivingpower from the first external power supply VDD.

Meanwhile, an organic light-emitting display device may be classifiedinto a top emission type, a bottom emission type, and a dual emissiontype. Here, in an increased large area display panel even with anyemission type being utilized, a voltage drop may occur at a cathode in aprocess of forming the cathode on a front surface of a display panel. Toovercome such limitation, an auxiliary electrode or an auxiliary wiringmay be formed in a non-emission area. Hereinafter, the following exampleembodiments will be described based upon a top emission organiclight-emitting display device. However, example embodiments of thepresent disclosure are not limited to a top emission organiclight-emitting display device and may be applied to structures of alldisplay devices preventing a voltage drop of a cathode.

The auxiliary electrodes 130 may be disposed parallel to the pluralityof data lines DL1 to DLm on the substrate 100. That is, the auxiliaryelectrodes 130 may be disposed in the second direction. Here, althoughnot illustrated in FIG. 1, auxiliary wirings may be further disposedparallel to the data lines DL1 to DLm.

In some configurations, the auxiliary electrodes 130 may be disposedparallel to the plurality of scan lines SL1 to SLn on the substrate 100,but example embodiments are not limited thereto. That is, the auxiliaryelectrodes 130 may be disposed in the first direction. The organiclight-emitting display device 10 may prevent occurrence of a brightnessdifference between a peripheral portion and a central portion throughthe auxiliary electrodes 130, the occurrence of the brightnessdifference being caused by a voltage drop due to degradation of acathode (not shown) in an organic electroluminescent device or anorganic light-emitting diode (OLED) (not shown).

An organic light-emitting display device according to another exampleembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is aschematic view illustrating an organic light-emitting display device 20according to another example embodiment. The organic light-emittingdisplay device 20 according to another example embodiment may includethe same configurations as those of the above-described organiclight-emitting display device 10 according to the example embodiment. Arepeated description of the above-described example embodiment may beomitted. The same reference numerals denote the same components.

With reference to FIG. 2, the organic light-emitting display device 20includes a plurality of scan lines SL1 to SLn disposed on a substrate100 in a first direction and data lines DL1 to DLm disposed in a seconddirection crossing the first direction. The organic light-emittingdisplay device 20 includes a plurality of auxiliary electrodes 230disposed on the substrate 100.

Specifically, the organic light-emitting display device 20 includes aplurality of first auxiliary electrodes 231 disposed in parallel to theplurality of scan lines SL1 to SLm and a plurality of second auxiliaryelectrodes 232 disposed in parallel to the plurality of data lines DL1to DLm. That is, the auxiliary electrodes 230 may be disposed on thesubstrate 100 in a mesh form.

As described above, the auxiliary electrodes 230 may be disposed invarious forms. In addition, although not illustrated in FIG. 2,auxiliary wirings may be further disposed in parallel to the data linesDL1 to DLm. The organic light-emitting display device 20 can prevent abrightness difference between a peripheral portion and a central portionthrough the auxiliary electrodes 230 from being caused by a voltage dropdue to degradation of a cathode (not shown) in an organicelectroluminescent device (not shown).

An organic light-emitting display device including an auxiliaryelectrode and an auxiliary wiring will be described in detail withreference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an organic light-emitting displaydevice according to a first example embodiment. The organiclight-emitting display device according to the first example embodimentincludes an active layer 102 disposed on a substrate 100, a gateelectrode 103, a data line, a source electrode 106 a branched from thedata line, a drain electrode 106 b spaced apart from the sourceelectrode 106 a, and an auxiliary electrode 130.

A first electrode of an organic electroluminescent device contacts thedrain electrode 106 b though a first contact hole 170 through which thedrain electrode 106 b is exposed. Here, the first electrode may be ananode of the organic electroluminescent device.

The auxiliary electrode 130 is disposed on the same layer as and made ofthe same material as the first electrode. The auxiliary electrode 130may be disposed in each of a horizontal direction and a verticaldirection, e.g., in a mesh form. A placement form of the auxiliaryelectrode 130 is not limited thereto, but the auxiliary electrode 130may only be disposed in one direction of the horizontal direction andthe vertical direction.

Bank patterns 140 are disposed to expose a portion of the auxiliaryelectrode 130. A portion of the auxiliary electrode 130, not exposedthough the bank patterns 140, may contact a second electrode (not shown)of the organic electroluminescent device to prevent a voltage drop ofthe second electrode (not shown).

On the other hand, for contact between the auxiliary electrode 130 andthe bank patters 140 to be formed, a barrier rib 150 made of the samematerial as the bank patterns 140 is disposed on the portion of theauxiliary electrode 130, exposed by the bank patterns 140.

An auxiliary electrode contacting the second electrode of the organicelectroluminescent device according to the present example embodimentsis disposed between pixels regions. A material constituting theauxiliary electrode may be the same as a material constituting a firstelectrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, or a connectionelectrode electrically connecting the electrodes, but the presentexample embodiments are not limited thereto.

The organic light-emitting display device according to the first exampleembodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-B of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the substrate 100 may include a pixel region and acontact region. The pixel region is a region in which a thin filmtransistor Tr and an organic electroluminescent device EL are disposedon the substrate 100. The contact region of the substrate 100 is aregion in which the auxiliary electrode 130 and the second electrode 122are connected to each other.

Specifically, a buffer layer 101 is disposed on the substrate 100, andthe active layer 102 is disposed on the buffer layer 101. A gateinsulating film 105 is disposed on the active layer 102. The gateinsulating film 105 may be disposed to overlap a channel layer (notshown) of the active layer 102. The gate electrode 103 is disposed onthe gate insulating film 105.

The gate electrode 103 may be formed by laminating at least one selectedfrom copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), and analloy including combinations thereof. A material of the gate electrode103 is not limited thereto, but the gate electrode 103 may be made of amaterial of a gate electrode or a gate line, which is generally used. Inaddition, the gate electrode 103 is illustrated in FIG. 4 as including asingle metal layer, but may be formed by laminating two or more metallayers in some cases.

A first interlayer insulating layer 104 is disposed on the gateelectrode 103. The source electrode 106 a and the drain electrode 106 bare disposed on the first interlayer insulating layer 104 to be spacedapart from each other. The source electrode 106 a and the drainelectrode 106 b contact the active layer 102 through a first contacthole formed in the first interlayer insulating layer 104.

Here, the source electrode 106 a and the drain electrode 106 b may beformed by laminating at least one selected from copper (Cu), molybdenum(Mo), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), titanium (Ti), an alloy includingcombinations thereof, and a transparent conductive material, such asindium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), or ITZO. A material ofthe source electrode 106 a and the drain electrode 106 b is not limitedthereto, but the source electrode 106 a and the drain electrode 106 bmay be made of a material of a data line, which is generally used. Inaddition, the source electrode 106 a and the drain electrode 106 b areillustrated in FIG. 4 as including a single metal layer, but are formedby laminating two or more metal layers in some cases. As describedabove, the thin film transistor Tr may be disposed on the substrate 100.

A second interlayer insulating layer 107 and/or an overcoat layer 108may be disposed on the substrate 100 including the thin film transistorTr to protect the source electrode 106 a and the drain electrode 106 b.Here, all of the first interlayer insulating layer 104, the secondinterlayer insulating layer 107, and the overcoat layer 108 may be aninsulating layer. A first electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode 130of the organic electroluminescent device EL are disposed on the overcoatlayer 108. A contact hole for connecting the first electrode 120 and thedrain electrode 106 b of the thin film transistor Tr is formed in theovercoat layer 108. The first electrode 120 and the drain electrode 106b may be connected to each other through the contact hole.

Here, the first electrode 120 may be made of a transparent conductivematerial having a high work function. For example, the first electrode120 may be made of any one selected from the group consisting of indiumtin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), and zinc oxide (ZnO). Thefirst electrode 120 is illustrated in FIG. 4 as including a singlelayer, but may include a multiple-layer further including a reflectionlayer and a transparent conductive material layer.

Although the auxiliary electrode 130 may be made of the same material asthe first electrode 120, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.The auxiliary electrode 130 may be made of the same material as the gateelectrode 103 and the source/drain electrodes 106 a and 106 b. Theauxiliary electrode 130 may electrically connect the second electrode ofthe organic electroluminescent device EL.

The bank patterns 140 are disposed on both side surfaces of the firstelectrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode 130. That is, the bankpatterns 140 may be disposed to expose a portion of the top surface ofeach of the first electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode 130. Thebarrier rib 150 is disposed on a portion of the top surface in theauxiliary electrode 130 having the top surface, a portion of which isexposed due to the bank patterns 140. At this time, the bank patterns140 may have a normal tapered shape (e.g., the shape is tapers such thatthe top surface is smaller than the bottom surface) and the barrier rib150 may have a reverse tapered shape.

On the other hand, an additional process is necessary to form thebarrier rib 150 functioning to prevent a voltage drop from being causedby a resistance of a cathode (corresponding to a second electrode of anembodiment) in the organic electroluminescent device EL.

In addition, to facilitate a contact between the auxiliary electrode 130and the cathode of the organic electroluminescent device EL, the barrierrib 150 disposed on the auxiliary electrode 130 may have a reversetapered shape. However, it is difficult to form the barrier rib 150 inthe reverse tapered shape.

To overcome the difficulty, in the organic light-emitting display deviceaccording the first example embodiment, an insulating layer, e.g., theovercoat layer 108, may have at least two grooves 109 and 110 in anon-emission area. The auxiliary electrode 130 may be disposed onportions of the overcoat layer 108, in which the at least two grooves109 and 110 are formed. The barrier rib 150 disposed on the auxiliaryelectrode 130 may be disposed on the same layer as and made of the samematerial as the bank patterns 140. Specifically, the bank patterns 140and the barrier rib 150 may be made of an opaque organic material.

As described above, at least two grooves 109 and 110 may be formed onportions of the overcoat layer 108. Specifically, at least two grooves109 and 110 may be formed in regions overlapping regions in which theauxiliary electrode 130 is disposed. The auxiliary electrode 130 may beformed on the overcoat layer 108 to have a shape corresponding to ashape of at least two grooves 109 and 110.

Specifically, the auxiliary electrode 130 may have at least two grooves111 and 112 and at least one flat region disposed between at least twogrooves 111 and 112. The barrier rib 150 may be disposed in at least oneflat region disposed between at least two grooves 111 and 112. At thistime, the barrier rib 150 may be made of an opaque organic material andhave a reverse tapered shape.

An organic light-emitting layer 121 and the second electrode 122 of theorganic electroluminescent device EL may be sequentially disposed on topsurfaces of the first electrode 120, the bank patterns 140, and thebarrier rib 150, and a portion of the top surface of the auxiliaryelectrode 130.

On the other hand, configurations of an auxiliary electrode, bankpatterns, and a barrier rib, according to an embodiment including abarrier rib that does not need additional processes and has a reversetapered shape easily manufactured, will be described in detail. FIG. 5is an enlarged view of an X region of FIG. 4.

With reference to FIG. 5, the overcoat layer 108 may have at least twogrooves 109 and 110 in regions overlapping the auxiliary electrode 130.The auxiliary electrode 130 disposed on the overcoat layer 108 may havemorphology corresponding to a shape of at least two grooves 109 and 110formed in the overcoat layer 108. For example, an upper surface of theauxiliary electrode at a portion over the at least two groove may have ashape substantially corresponding to an upper surface of the insulatinglayer having the at least two grooves. At this time, the shape of atleast two grooves 109 and 110 may be a semicircular shape or asemielliptical shape, and thus, the auxiliary electrode 130 may beseamlessly formed on at least two grooves 109 and 110. Specifically,side surfaces of at least two grooves 109 and 110 may have a gentleslope, thereby preventing disconnection of the auxiliary electrode 130.

Meanwhile, the auxiliary electrode 130 has at least one flat region. Atthis time, the at least one flat region may be disposed between the twogrooves 111 and 112. The barrier rib 150 is disposed on the at least oneflat region of the auxiliary electrode 130. As described above, becausethe barrier rib 150 is disposed on the at least one flat region betweenthe two grooves 111 and 112, the barrier rib 150 having a certain widthmay be stably disposed.

At this time, the barrier rib 150 may be disposed on the same layer asand made of the same material as the bank patterns 140 disposed on theboth side surfaces of the first electrode 120 and the auxiliaryelectrode 130. Specifically, the barrier rib 150 and the bank patterns140 may be made of the same opaque organic material. The barrier rib 150may be formed by the same process as the bank patterns 140. Therefore,an additional process of forming the barrier rib 150 is not necessary,thereby simplifying a process.

On the other hand, the bank patterns 140 have a normal tapered shape andthe barrier rib 150 may have a reverse tapered shape. Because theorganic light-emitting layer 121 covers the whole top surface of theauxiliary electrode 130, the barrier rib 150 may have the reversetapered shape to prevent a noncontact between the auxiliary electrode130 and the second electrode 122.

Specifically, the organic light-emitting layer 121 of theelectroluminescent device EL may be formed by a deposition method or acoating method having linearity. For example, the organic light-emittinglayer 121 may be formed by an evaporation method. Therefore, at the timeof forming the organic light-emitting layer 121, because a material ofthe organic light-emitting 121 is blocked by the barrier rib 150 havingthe reverse tapered shape, a region in which the organic light-emittinglayer 121 is not disposed is generated on the auxiliary electrode 130.

More specifically, the organic light-emitting layer 121 is not disposedin a region adjacent to the barrier rib 150. Accordingly, the organiclight-emitting layer 121 may expose a portion of the auxiliary electrode130 to facilitate a contact between the auxiliary electrode 130 and thesecond electrode 122.

The second electrode 122 of the electroluminescent device EL may beformed by a deposition method or a coating method having no constantdirectionality. For example, the second electrode 122 may be formed by asputtering method. Because the sputtering method has excellent stepcoverage, the second electrode 122 may be easily formed even withrespect to a structure having a stepped-shape or a reverse taperedshape.

The second electrode 122 may sufficiently contact the auxiliaryelectrode 130, thereby preventing a brightness difference between aperipheral portion and a central portion of a panel from being caused bya voltage drop due to the second electrode 122.

On the other hand, the barrier rib 150 may have protrusions 151 and 152on portions thereof. Specifically, the barrier rib 150 may have theprotrusions 151 and 152 on portions thereof in regions in which thebarrier rib 150 and the auxiliary electrode 130 contact each other.

At this time, the protrusions 151 and 152 may be disposed to overlapportions of the grooves 111 and 112 of the auxiliary electrode 130,respectively. After an exposing process and a developing process forforming the barrier rib 150 in a reverse tapered shape using a steppedportion caused by the grooves 111 and 112 formed in the auxiliaryelectrode 130, the protrusions 151 and 152 may be formed on portions ofthe barrier rib 150.

A shape of the bank patterns 140 and the barrier rib 150 is not limitedto the shape illustrated in FIG. 5, and the bank patterns 140 and thebarrier rib 150 may have a shape as illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating bank patterns 240 and a barrier rib 250according to another example embodiment. A repeated description of theabove-described example embodiment may be omitted. The same referencenumerals denote the same components.

With reference to FIG. 6, in an organic light-emitting display deviceaccording to another example embodiment, the bank patterns 240 and thebarrier rib 250 may be disposed on the same layer and made of the samematerial. At this time, the bank patterns 240 and the barrier rib 250may be made of an opaque organic material. In addition, the bankpatterns 240 and the barrier rib 250 may be formed by the same process.

In a process of forming the bank patterns 240 and the barrier rib 250, ashape of the bank patterns 240 and the barrier rib 250 may be changedaccording to an exposing time and a developing time. Specifically, across section of the bank patterns 240 may have a tetragonal shape, apentagonal shape, or the like according to a process condition. A shapeof the bank patterns 240 according to the present example embodiment isnot limited thereto, but it is sufficient as long as the bank patterns240 have a polygonal shape or a polygonal shape having round corners.

In addition, the barrier rib 150 may have a reverse tapered shape andmay have no protrusion in a region in which the barrier rib 150 and theauxiliary electrode 130 contact each other. That is, it is sufficient aslong as the bank patterns 240 according to the present exampleembodiment have a shape gradually widened in a vertical direction.

As described above, the bank patterns and the barrier rib according tothe present example embodiments may be formed by the same process,thereby simplifying a manufacturing process. Theses configurations willbe described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

FIGS. 7 to 10 are schematic views illustrating a manufacturing methodfor forming bank patterns 140 and a barrier rib 150 according to a firstexample embodiment. The following manufacturing method may include thesame configurations as those of above-described example embodiment. Arepeated description of the above-described example embodiment may beomitted. The same reference numerals denote the same components.

In FIG. 7, at least two grooves 109 and 110 are formed in an overcoatlayer 108. At least two grooves 109 and 110 formed in the overcoat layer108 may be spaced apart from each other and be formed by usingphotolithography.

Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a first electrode 120 and anauxiliary electrode 130 of an organic electroluminescent device areformed on the overcoat layer 108 having at least two grooves 109 and110. Here, the first electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode 130 maybe formed by the same process. As such, the first electrode 120 and theauxiliary electrode 130 may be formed simultaneously of a same material.

The first electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode 130 formed by thesame process may be spaced apart from each other. The auxiliaryelectrode 130 may be formed in regions overlapping at least two grooves109 and 110 formed in the overcoat layer 108. At this time, theauxiliary electrode 130 may be formed according to morphology of theovercoat layer 108. Therefore, the auxiliary electrode 130 may also haveat least two grooves 111 and 112.

Thereafter, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, an opaque organic material141 is applied to the first electrode 120, the auxiliary electrode 130,and the overcoat layer 108. After the opaque organic material 141 isapplied to the first electrode 120, the auxiliary electrode 130, and theovercoat layer 108, the opaque organic material 141 is patterned using amask 500 having a blocking portion 501 and a transmitting portion 502,thereby forming the bank patterns 140 and the barrier rib 150. As such,the bank patterns 140 and the barrier rib 150 may be formedsimultaneously of a same material.

The bank patterns 140 may be formed to overlap a portion of the topsurface of each of the first electrode 120 and the auxiliary electrode130 by patterning the opaque organic material 141. A barrier rib 150 maybe formed on a flat region disposed between the two grooves 111 and 112formed in the auxiliary electrode 130. At this time, the bank patterns140 may have a normal tapered shape and the barrier rib 150 may have areverse tapered shape.

The opaque organic material 141 applied to the first electrode 120, theauxiliary electrode 130, and the overcoat layer 108 may be negativephotoresist that is cured when irradiated with light. That is, a portionof the opaque organic material 141, onto which light is not irradiatedby the mask 500, e.g., the opaque organic material 141 applied to aregion corresponding to the blocking portion 501 of the mask 500 isremoved during developing. The opaque organic material 141 applied to aregion corresponding to the transmitting portion 502 of the mask 500 isnot removed and remains after developing.

On the other hand, when the opaque organic material 141 disposed tocorrespond to the transmitting portion 502 of the mask 500 is exposed byan amount of exposure lower than a reference amount of exposure. Aportion of the opaque organic material 141 may be removed duringdeveloping. Therefore, a dimension of the opaque organic material 141may be increased, thereby manufacturing the barrier rib 150 having areverse tapered shape.

Specifically, a height difference may be generated in the opaque organicmaterial 141 through at least two grooves 109 and 110 formed in theovercoat layer 108. In other words, among the opaque organic material141 applied to the auxiliary electrode 130, a height H1 of the opaqueorganic material 141 applied to the two grooves 111 and 112 of theauxiliary electrode 130 may be higher than a height H2 of the opaqueorganic material 141 applied to the flat region disposed between thegrooves 111 and 112 of the auxiliary electrode 130.

Therefore, when the opaque organic material 141 is irradiated withlight, the height H1 of the opaque organic material 141 applied to thetwo grooves 111 and 112 formed in the auxiliary electrode 130 is higherthan the height H2. Thus, the opaque organic material 141 applied to thetwo grooves 111 and 112 formed in the auxiliary electrode 130 has areverse tapered shape by an undercut phenomenon caused by a lack ofexposure during developing. That is, due to the two grooves 111 and 112formed in the auxiliary electrode 130, both sides of the barrier groove150 may be formed to have a reverse tapered shape by the undercutphenomenon.

A region of the opaque organic material 141, irradiated by anappropriate amount of light, is formed to have a normal tapered shapeafter developing. Therefore, a region of the opaque organic material141, irradiated with an appropriate amount of light, remains as the bankpatterns 140 having a normal tapered shape, the region of the opaqueorganic material 141 being disposed to correspond to a portion of theovercoat layer 108, on which a groove is not formed.

At least two grooves 109 and 110 may have a semicircular shape or asemielliptical shape. Therefore, the two grooves 111 and 112 formed inthe auxiliary electrode 130 may also have a semicircular shape or asemielliptical shape. As described above, because at least two groovesare formed in each of the overcoat layer 108 and the auxiliary electrode130, it is possible to form the barrier rib 150 having a reverse taperedshape and the bank patterns 140 having a normal tapered shape at thesame time.

However, the shape of the grooves according to the present exampleembodiment is not limited thereto. It is sufficient as long as a heightof the overcoat layer 108 corresponding to the flat region of theauxiliary electrode 130 is higher than a height of the grooves and thusa stepped portion is formed on the overcoat layer 108. Due to thestepped portion described above, a barrier rib may be formed without anadditional process. That is, it is possible to form the bank patterns140 having a normal tapered shape and the barrier rib 150 having areverse tapered shape at the same time using the stepped portion.

Therefore, an additional process is not necessary to form the barrierrib 150. In addition, unlike the related art, in which it may bedifficult to form a reverse tapered shape, because at least two groovesare formed in each of the overcoat layer 108 and the auxiliary electrode130, the barrier rib 150 may have a reverse tapered shape by using apartial height difference in the opaque organic material 141.

On the other hand, a depth of at least two grooves 109 and 110 formed inthe overcoat layer 108 may be in the range of about 1 μm to a height ofthe overcoat layer 108. A this time, when the depth of at least twogrooves 109 and 110 formed in the overcoat layer 108 is less than about1 μm, the shape of the barrier rib 150 may be more of a normal taperedshape than a reverse tapered shape. In addition, when the depth of atleast two grooves 109 and 110 formed in the overcoat layer 108 exceedsthe height of the overcoat layer 108, grooves may be formed on otherconfigurations of an organic light-emitting display device, therebyinfluencing the reliability of a display device.

An organic light-emitting display device according to a second exampleembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is across-sectional view illustrating an organic light-emitting displaydevice according to a second embodiment. The organic light-emittingdisplay device according to the second example embodiment may includethe same configurations as those of the above-described organiclight-emitting display device according to the example embodiment. Arepeated description of the above-described example embodiment may beomitted. The same reference numerals denote the same components.

As shown in FIG. 12, the organic light-emitting display device accordingto the second example embodiment may include an overcoat layer 208having at least two grooves 300 and 310 in one subpixel. The organiclight-emitting display device includes a first electrode 220 of anorganic electroluminescent device EL disposed on the overcoat layer 208,an auxiliary electrode 630, and bank patterns 640.

Here, the at least two grooves formed in the overcoat layer 208 mayinclude grooves 300 and 310 except for a contact hole through which thefirst electrode 220 contacts a drain electrode 106 b of a thin filmtransistor Tr. In addition, the following description will be made withreference to a configuration in which the overcoat layer 108 has twogrooves 300 and 310 in one subpixel. However, the organic light-emittingdisplay device according to the present example embodiment may includeall configurations in which the overcoat layer 108 has at least twogrooves 300 and 310 in one subpixel.

As described above, because the overcoat layer 108 has at least twogrooves 300 and 310, the auxiliary electrode 630 of the organiclight-emitting display device according to the second example embodimentmay also have at least grooves or holes in regions corresponding to atleast two grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208 (thefollowing descriptions will be made with references to a configurationin which holes are formed in an auxiliary electrode). At this time, theauxiliary electrode 630 may be disposed to surround at least two grooves300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208.

In other words, the auxiliary electrode 630 may be disposed to surroundthe outsides of at least two grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoatlayer 208. On a cross section, the auxiliary electrode 630 may bedivided into sections by at least two grooves 300 and 310 of theovercoat layer 208. On the other hand, a width (or a size) of the holesformed in the auxiliary electrode 630 may be smaller than a width (or asize) of the grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208.

That is, the auxiliary electrode 630 may protrude toward the grooves 300and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208. In addition, the auxiliaryelectrode 630 may be disposed to expose side surfaces of the grooves 300and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208. That is, the auxiliaryelectrode 630 may not be disposed in the grooves 300 and 310 formed inthe overcoat layer 208.

On the other hand, the bank patterns 640 may be disposed to expose aportion of the top surface of the first electrode 220. In other words,the bank patterns 640 may be disposed to overlap an end of the firstelectrode 220. The bank patterns 640 disposed to overlap the end of thefirst electrode 220 as described above may extend to a portion of thetop surface of the auxiliary electrode 630. Specifically, the bankpatterns 640 may extend to some regions of the holes formed in theauxiliary electrode 630.

That is, the bank patterns 640 may protrude toward the holes formed inthe auxiliary electrode 630. In other words, the auxiliary electrode 630may protrude toward the grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer208, and the bank patterns 640 may protrude toward the holes formed inthe auxiliary electrode 630. That is, a region in which the bankpatterns 640 and the grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer208 overlap each other may be wider than a region in which the auxiliaryelectrode 630 and the grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer208 overlap each other.

The bank patterns 640 may be disposed to expose at least one sidesurface of the holes formed in the auxiliary electrode 630 whileprotruding toward the holes formed in the auxiliary electrode 630. Inaddition, the bank patterns 640 may be disposed to expose side surfacesof the grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208.

A barrier rib 650 may be disposed on the top surface in a regioncorresponding to a region between the two holes formed in the auxiliaryelectrode 640. The barrier rib 650 may be disposed to overlap someregions of the holes formed in the auxiliary electrode 630.

That is, the barrier rib 650 may protrude toward the holes formed in theauxiliary electrode 630. In other words, the auxiliary electrode 630 mayprotrude toward the grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer208, and the barrier rib 650 may protrude toward the holes formed in theauxiliary electrode 630. That is, a region in which the barrier rib 650and the grooves 300 and 310 of the overcoat layer 208 overlap each othermay be wider than a region in which the auxiliary electrode 630 and thegrooves 300 and 310 of the overcoat layer 208 overlap each other.

The barrier rib 650 may be disposed to expose at least one side surfaceof the holes formed in the auxiliary electrode 630 while protrudingtoward the holes formed in the auxiliary electrode 630. In addition, thebarrier rib 650 may be disposed to expose side surfaces of the grooves300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208. In other words, thebarrier rib 650 may not be disposed in the grooves 300 and 310 formed inthe overcoat layer 208.

On the other hand, the barrier rib 650 disposed on the auxiliaryelectrode 630 may be disposed on the same layer as and made of the samematerial as the bank patterns 640. For example, the bank patterns 640and the barrier rib 650 may be made of an opaque organic material or atransparent organic material. That is, it is sufficient as long as thebank patterns 640 and the barrier rib 650 according to a second exampleembodiment are made of the same material. In addition, all the bankpatterns 640 and the barrier rib 650 according to the second exampleembodiment may have a normal tapered shape.

As described above, because the bank patterns 640 and the barrier rib650 according to the second example embodiment are disposed on the samelayer, made of the same material, and have the same normal taperedshape, the bank patterns 640 and the barrier rib 650 may be formed bythe same process. Therefore, additional processes may not be necessaryto form the barrier rib 650, thereby simplifying a process.

Meanwhile, an organic light-emitting layer 221, a second electrode 222,and an electrode layer 223 of an organic electroluminescent device ELare disposed on a substrate 100 on which the bank patterns 640 and thebarrier rib 650 are formed. Here, at the time of forming the organiclight-emitting layer 221, a protrusion of the barrier rib 650 may blocka material of the organic light-emitting layer 221 to expose sidesurfaces of the grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208. Inaddition, due to the protrusion of the barrier rib 650, the organiclight-emitting layer 221 may be disposed to expose side surfaces and thebottom surface of the auxiliary electrode 630 overlapping the grooves300 and 310 of the overcoat layer 208.

In addition, on a cross section, the grooves 300 and 310 according tothe second example embodiment may have a polygonal shape. For example,the grooves 300 and 310 may have a tetragonal shape. As described above,because the grooves 300 and 310 have a polygonal shape, a gradient ofside surfaces of the grooves 300 and 310 is steep. Accordingly, it maybe more difficult for the material of the organic light-emitting layer221 to penetrate into regions corresponding to the side surfaces ofgrooves 300 and 310.

The second electrode 222 is disposed on the organic light-emitting layer221. However, because the second electrode 222 should be thinly formed,the second electrode 222 is blocked by the protrusion of the barrier rib650 and does not sufficiently penetrate a region in which the auxiliaryelectrode 630 is exposed. Accordingly, the second electrode 222 may bedisposed to expose side surfaces and the bottom surface of the auxiliaryelectrode 630 (a detailed review will be conducted through a descriptionwith respect to FIG. 12). At this time, the electrode layer 223penetrating to the side surfaces and the bottom surface of the auxiliaryelectrode 630 through the protrusion of the barrier rib 650 is disposedon the second electrode 222.

On the other hand, the second electrode 222 may be made of a metalalloy, and the electrode layer 223 may be made of a transparentconductive material. That is, when light emitted from the organicelectroluminescent device EL travels upwardly, a loss of light isincreased as the second electrode 222 becomes thicker. Because theelectrode layer 223 is made of the transparent conductive layer, evenwhen the light emitted from the organic electroluminescent device ELtravels upwardly, the loss of the light is small.

Therefore, the second electrode 222 may be thinly formed and theelectrode layer 223 made of the transparent conductive material may bedisposed to contact the second electrode 222, and thus, the secondelectrode 222 and the electrode layer 223 may be electrically connectedto each other. In addition, because the auxiliary electrode 630 and theelectrode layer 223 are disposed to contact each other, the secondelectrode 222 and the auxiliary electrode 630 may be electricallyconnected to each other.

In other words, the electrode layer 223 may contact side surfaces of theholes formed in the auxiliary electrode 630. Specifically, because theelectrode layer 223 is formed by a deposition method or a coating methodhaving no constant directionality, the electrode layer 223 may be formedto contact the barrier rib 650 and the side surfaces of the holes formedin the auxiliary electrode 630.

As a result, the electrode layer 230 and the auxiliary electrode 630contact each other, thereby preventing a brightness difference between aperipheral portion and a central portion of a panel from being caused bya voltage drop due to the second electrode 222.

Although the electrode layer 223 is illustrated in FIG. 11 as beingfurther disposed on the second electrode 222, the organic light-emittingdisplay device according to the present example embodiment is notlimited thereto and may not include the electrode layer 223. At thistime, the second electrode 222 may be made of a transparent conductivematerial.

The configurations will be described in more detail with reference toFIG. 12. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of region Y of FIG. 11. Thefollowing example embodiment described later may include the sameconfigurations as those of the above-described example embodiment. Arepeated description of the above-described example embodiment may beomitted. The same reference numerals denote the same components.

With reference to FIG. 12, in the organic light-emitting display deviceaccording to the second embodiment, the overcoat layer 208 has at leasttwo grooves 300 and 310 in one subpixel. At this time, the auxiliaryelectrode 630 is disposed to surround at least two grooves 300 and 310.The auxiliary electrode 630 may overlap some regions of the two grooves300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208. That is, the auxiliaryelectrode 630 may have protrusions 631 in regions overlapping thegrooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208. Here, theprotrusions 631 of the auxiliary electrode 630 may cover some regions ofthe grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208. In otherwords, the auxiliary electrode 630 may have the holes having a width L2smaller than a width L1 of the grooves 300 and 310 formed in theovercoat layer 208 in the regions corresponding to the grooves 300 and310 formed in the overcoat layer 208.

In addition, the bank patterns 640 and the barrier rib 650 may bedisposed on a portion of the top surface of the auxiliary electrode 630.At this time, the bank patterns 640 and the barrier rib 650 may overlapsome regions of the holes formed in the auxiliary electrode 630. Thatis, the bank patterns 640 and the barrier rib 650 may have protrusions641 and 651 in regions overlapping the holes formed in the auxiliaryelectrode 630, respectively. At this time, a width of the protrusion 641of the bank patterns 640 and the protrusion 651 of the barrier rib 650may be greater than a width of the protrusion 631 of the auxiliaryelectrode 630. The protrusion 641 of the bank patterns 640 and theprotrusion 651 of the barrier rib 650 may cover some regions of theholes formed in the auxiliary electrode 630.

As described above, because the auxiliary electrode 630 has theprotrusions 631 overlapping the grooves 300 and 310 formed in theovercoat layer 208 and the bank patterns 640 and the barrier rib 650disposed on the auxiliary electrode 630 respectively have theprotrusions 641 and 651 overlapping the holes formed in the auxiliaryelectrode 630, at least one stepped portion may be formed on an outerportion of each of the grooves 300 and 310.

Specifically, a stepped portion caused by the protrusion 631 of theauxiliary electrode 630 and the protrusion 641 of the bank patterns 640or a stepped portion caused by the protrusion 631 of the auxiliaryelectrode 630 and the protrusion 651 of the barrier rib 650 may beformed on the outer portion of each of the grooves 300 and 310. Thestepped portion formed on the outer portion of the grooves 300 and 310may prevent a contact between the auxiliary electrode 630 and theorganic light-emitting layer 221.

The organic light-emitting layer 221 is disposed on the overcoat layer208, the first electrode 220, the auxiliary electrode 630, the bankpatterns 640, and the barrier rib 650. Here, the organic light-emittinglayer 221 may be formed by a deposition method or a coating methodhaving linearity. For example, the organic light-emitting layer 221 maybe formed by an evaporation method.

When the organic light-emitting layer 221 is formed though the method asdescribed above, a material of the organic light-emitting layer 221 maybe blocked by the protrusion 641 of the bank patterns 640 and theprotrusion 651 of the barrier rib 650. Thus, the organic light-emittinglayer 221 may only be formed on bottoms of the grooves 300 and 310formed in the overcoat layer 208. That is, the organic light-emittinglayer 221 may be disposed to expose side surfaces of the grooves 300 and310 formed in the overcoat layer 208 and side surfaces of the protrusion631 of the auxiliary electrode 630. That is, the organic light-emittinglayer 221 and the auxiliary electrode 630 may not contact each other.

As described above, the organic light-emitting layer 221 may be disposedto expose the side surfaces and the bottom surface of the protrusion 631of the auxiliary electrode 630, thereby facilitating an electricalcontact between the auxiliary electrode 630 and the second electrode222.

In addition, the second electrode 222 of the organic electroluminescentdevice EL is disposed on the organic light-emitting layer 221. Thesecond electrode 222 of the organic electroluminescent device EL may beformed by a deposition method or a coating method having no constantdirectionality. For example, the second electrode 222 may be formed by asputtering method. Because the sputtering method has excellent stepcoverage, the second electrode 122 may be easily formed even withrespect to a structure having a stepped portion.

On the other hand, because a loss of light emitted from the organicelectroluminescent device EL may be caused when the second electrode 222is made of a metal material or a metal alloy having low transparency,the second electrode 222 may be thinly formed. That is, the secondelectrode 222 should be thin enough to not reflect light and to transmitlight. However, because the second electrode 222 is thinly formed, thesecond electrode 222 may not be formed on an outside portion of thegrooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208.

Specifically, because the second electrode 222 is easily formed by amethod of easily forming the second electrode 222 even with respect to astructure having a stepped portion but should be thinly formed, amaterial of the second electrode 222 is insufficient to allow thematerial to penetrate a stepped portion formed on the outside portion ofthe grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208 and to bedeposited.

Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the second electrode 222 may bedisposed on the organic light-emitting layer 221. Specifically, thesecond electrode 222 may not be disposed on side surfaces of the grooves300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208, side surfaces of theprotrusion 631 of the auxiliary electrode 630, the bottom surface of theprotrusion 641 of the bank patterns 640, and the bottom surface of theprotrusion 651 of the barrier rib 650.

As described above, the second electrode 222 and the auxiliary electrode630 may not directly contact each other. Therefore, for electricalcontact between the second electrode 222 and the auxiliary electrode 630to be formed, the electrode layer 223 is disposed to contact the sidesurfaces of the protrusion 631 of the auxiliary electrode 630.

The electrode layer 223 may also be formed in the same manner as in thesecond electrode 222. In addition, because the electrode layer 223 ismade of a transparent material to prevent a loss of light emitted fromthe organic electroluminescent device EL, the electrode layer 223 may beformed to be sufficiently thick. Therefore, a material of the electrodelayer 223 may sufficiently penetrate the stepped portion formed on theoutside portion of the grooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer208.

That is, the electrode layer 223 may be disposed on the second electrode222 and may also be disposed on the side surfaces of the grooves 300 and310 formed in the overcoat layer 208, the side surfaces and the bottomsurface of the protrusion 631 of the auxiliary electrode 630, the bottomsurface of the protrusion 641 of the bank patterns 640, and the bottomsurface of the protrusion 651 of the barrier rib 650. Therefore, theelectrode layer 233 may contact the side surfaces and the bottom surfaceof the protrusion 631 of the auxiliary electrode 630.

That is, the second electrode 222 and the electrode layer 223 aredisposed to contact each other and the electrode layer 223 and theauxiliary electrode 630 are disposed to contact each other, therebyallowing the second electrode 222 and the auxiliary electrode toelectrically contact each other.

A method for manufacturing the organic light-emitting display deviceaccording to the second example embodiment will be described withreference to FIGS. 13 to 16. FIGS. 13 to 16 are views illustrating amethod for manufacturing the organic light-emitting display deviceaccording to the second example embodiment.

First, with reference to FIG. 13, a first electrode 220 and auxiliaryelectrode patterns 630 are formed on an overcoat layer 308. At thistime, the first electrode 220 and the auxiliary electrode patterns 631may be made of the same material through the same process. Thereafter, abank pattern material is applied to the first electrode 220 and theauxiliary electrode patterns 631. The bank pattern material may be anopaque organic material or a transparent organic material.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the bank pattern material is allowed to havedifferent heights according to regions by using a halftone mask 700.Specifically, a blocking portion 701 of the halftone mask 700corresponds to regions corresponding to a bank region 641 in which bankpatterns are formed later and a barrier rib region 652 in which abarrier rib is formed later. A semi-transmitting portion 702 of thehalftone mask 700 corresponds to an upper portion of the first electrode220 that will subsequently define an emission area. A transmittingportion 703 of the halftone mask 700 corresponds to a regioncorresponding to a region 644 in which grooves of an auxiliary electrodewill be subsequently formed.

Thereafter, when a developing process is performed, the largest amountof the bank pattern material remains in the bank region 642 and thebarrier rib region 652. A bank pattern material thinner than the bankpattern material remaining in the bank region 642 and the barrier ribregion 652 remains on the upper portion of the first electrode 220 thatwill define the emission area 643. A bank pattern material may beremoved from the region corresponding to the region 644 in which thegrooves of the auxiliary electrode will be subsequently formed. Theauxiliary electrode patterns 631 are etched by using the bank patternmaterial as a mask.

After the auxiliary electrode patterns 631 are etched, as illustrated inFIG. 15, two holes may be formed in an auxiliary electrode 630.Thereafter, to expose bank patterns 640, a barrier rib 650, and thefirst electrode 220, the bank pattern material is partially ashed. Theupper portion of the first electrode 220 may be exposed through anashing process. In other words, the upper portion of the first electrode220 may be exposed in a region of FIG. 14, which will subsequentlydefine the emission area 643. In addition, due to the ashing process, aheight of the bank patterns 640 and the barrier rib 650 may be lowerthan a height of the bank pattern material disposed in the bank region642 and the barrier rib region 652 of FIG. 14.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 15, all of the bank patterns640 and the barrier rib 650 may be formed in a normal tapered shape andbe formed by the same process by using the same mask. Therefore, aprocess of forming the bank patterns 640 and the barrier rib 650 may besimplified.

In addition, grooves 300 and 310 are formed in an overcoat layer 208 byusing the auxiliary electrode 630 as a mask. Here, a width L1 of thegrooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208 may be wider that awidth L2 of the holes formed in the auxiliary electrode 630.

Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 16, an organic light-emitting layer221 is formed. At this time, the organic light-emitting layer 221 may beformed by a deposition method or a coating method having linearity.Therefore, a material of the organic light-emitting layer 221 may beblocked by a protrusion of the bank patterns 640 and a protrusion of thebarrier rib 650, so that the organic light-emitting layer 221 may onlybe formed on bottom portions of the grooves 300 and 310 formed in theovercoat layer 208.

After the organic light-emitting layer 221 is formed, a second electrode222 and an electrode layer 223 are formed. At this time, the secondelectrode 222 and the electrode layer 223 may be formed by a depositionmethod or a coating method having no constant directionality. However,because the second electrode 222 is thinly formed, the second electrode222 and the auxiliary electrode 630 may not contact each other.

Meanwhile, because the electrode layer 223 is formed thicker than thesecond electrode 222, a material of the electrode layer 223 maypenetrate into a stepped portion formed an outside portion of thegrooves 300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208. Therefore, theelectrode layer 223 may be formed even on the bottom surface of theprotrusion of the bank patterns 640, the bottom surface of theprotrusion of the barrier rib 650, side surfaces and the bottom surfaceof the protrusion of the auxiliary electrode 630, and side surfaces ofthe grooves 300 and 310.

As described above, because only one mask is used in forming the grooves300 and 310 formed in the overcoat layer 208, the first electrode 220,the auxiliary electrode 630, the bank patterns 640, the barrier rib 650,the second electrode 222, and the electrode layer 223, manufacturingcosts of the organic light-emitting display device according to thesecond example embodiment can be reduced. In particular, the bankpatterns 640 and the barrier rib 650 are formed by the same process,thereby simplifying the manufacturing process.

In addition, an auxiliary electrode and a barrier rib may be disposed atvarious positions, as will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to19. FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating a placement relationship betweena subpixel and an auxiliary electrode according to an exampleembodiment. In FIG. 17, a plurality of pixel regions P is disposed on asubstrate 100. A plurality of subpixels is disposed on each of the pixelregions P.

Specifically, each of the pixel regions P may include a first subpixelSP1, a second subpixel SP2, a third subpixel SP3, and a fourth subpixelSP4. Although each of the pixel regions P includes four subpixels in aview, the present example embodiment is not limited thereto. One pixelregion P may include two or three subpixels.

Here, the first to fourth subpixels SP1 to SP4 may be defined as anemission area EA and a non-emission area NEA by bank patterns 340. Thatis, a region opened by the bank patterns 340 may be the emission areaEA, and a region in which the bank patterns 340 are disposed may be thenon-emission area NEA. At this time, the non-emission area NEA mayinclude a region in which an auxiliary electrode 330 is disposed.

The auxiliary electrode 330 may be disposed on a lower portion of eachof the first to fourth subpixels SP1 to SP4. That is, one auxiliaryelectrode 330 may be disposed on one subpixel. The auxiliary electrode330 may be disposed in parallel to a gate line (not shown) or a dataline (not shown).

On the other hand, a barrier rib 350 may be disposed on a portion of thetop surface of the auxiliary electrode 330. Here, the bank patterns 340and the barrier rib 350 may be disposed on the same layer and made ofthe same material. The bank patterns 340 may be formed in a normaltapered shape and the barrier rib 350 may be formed in a reverse taperedshape.

In addition, the auxiliary electrode 330 is illustrated in a view asbeing disposed on the lower portion of each of the first to fourthsubpixels SP1 to SP4, but the present example embodiment is not limitedthereto. The auxiliary electrode 330 may be disposed on an upper portionand side portions of each of the first to fourth subpixels SP1 to SP4.That is, it is sufficient as long as the present example embodiment hasa configuration in which one auxiliary electrode 330 is disposed in onesubpixel. As described above, the auxiliary electrodes 340 arerespectively disposed in the subpixels, thereby adjusting a voltagedifference of an organic light-emitting display device for everysubpixel.

FIG. 18 is a plan view illustrating a placement relationship between asubpixel and an auxiliary electrode according to another exampleembodiment. An organic light-emitting display device according toanother example embodiment may include the same configurations as thoseof the above-described organic light-emitting display device accordingto the example embodiment. A repeated description of the above-describedexample embodiment may be omitted. The same reference numerals denotethe same components. In FIG. 18, a plurality of pixel regions Prespectively including a plurality of subpixels SP1 to SP4 are disposedon a substrate 100.

An auxiliary electrode 430 may be disposed on a lower portion of each ofthe pixel regions P. That is, one auxiliary electrode 430 may bedisposed in one pixel region P. The auxiliary electrode 430 may bedisposed in parallel to a gate line (not shown) or a data line (notshown).

A barrier rib 450 disposed on the same layer as and made of the samematerial as bank patterns 440 may be disposed on the auxiliary electrode430. Here, the bank patterns 440 may be formed in a normal tapered shapeand the barrier rib 450 may be formed in a reverse tapered shape.

In addition, the auxiliary electrode 430 is illustrated in a view asbeing disposed on the lower portion of each of the pixel regions P, butthe present example embodiment is not limited thereto. The auxiliaryelectrode 430 may be disposed on an upper portion and side portions ofeach of the pixel regions P. That is, it is sufficient as long as thepresent example embodiment has a configuration in which one auxiliaryelectrode 430 is disposed in one pixel region P. As described above, theauxiliary electrodes 340 are respectively disposed in the pixel regionsP, thereby adjusting a voltage difference of an organic light-emittingdisplay device for each pixel region P.

FIG. 19 is a plan view illustrating a placement relationship between asubpixel and an auxiliary electrode according to another exampleembodiment. An organic light-emitting display device according toanother example embodiment may include the same configurations as thoseof the above-described organic light-emitting display device accordingto the example embodiment. A repeated description of the above-describedexample embodiment may be omitted. The same reference numerals denotethe same components.

As shown in FIG. 19, a first pixel region P1 and a second pixel regionP2 respectively including a plurality of subpixels SP2 to SP4 aredisposed on a substrate 100. Here, the first pixel region P1 and thesecond pixel region P2 are disposed adjacently to each other. Forexample, the first pixel region P1 may be disposed on an upper portionof the second pixel region P2.

Here, an auxiliary electrode 530 may be disposed between the first pixelregion P1 and the second pixel region P2. Specifically, the auxiliaryelectrode 530 may be disposed between one subpixel disposed in the firstpixel region P1 and one subpixel of the second pixel region P2, disposedto correspond to the one subpixel.

For example, the auxiliary electrode 530 may be disposed between asecond subpixel SP2 disposed in the first pixel region P1 and a secondsubpixel SP2 disposed in the second pixel region P2. Here, the secondsubpixel SP2 may be a white subpixel W.

Although the auxiliary electrode 530 is illustrated in a view as beingdisposed between the white subpixel W of the first pixel region P1 andthe white subpixel W of the second pixel region P2, the present exampleembodiment is not limited thereto. The auxiliary electrode 530 may bedisposed between a red subpixel R of the first pixel region P1 and a redsubpixel R of the second pixel region P2, between a green subpixel G ofthe first pixel region P1 and a green subpixel G of the second pixelregion P2, or between a blue subpixel B of the first pixel region P1 anda blue subpixel B of the second pixel region P2.

A barrier rib 550 disposed on the same layer as and made of the samematerial as bank patterns 540 may be disposed on the auxiliary electrode530. Here, the bank patterns 540 may be formed in a normal tapered shapeand the barrier rib 550 may be formed in a reverse tapered shape.

Although the present example embodiment provides a configuration inwhich one auxiliary electrode 530 disposed between two pixel regions,the present disclosure is not limited thereto. A plurality of pixelregions may include one auxiliary electrode 530. As described above, theplurality of pixel regions may include one auxiliary electrode 530,thereby adjusting a voltage difference of an organic light-emittingdisplay device for each of a plurality of pixel regions.

According to an organic light-emitting display device and a method formanufacturing the same, bank patterns and a barrier rib can be formedthough the same process, thereby simplifying a process. In addition,according to the organic light-emitting display device and the methodfor manufacturing the same, a cathode and an auxiliary electrode caneasily contact each other, thereby preventing a voltage drop from beingcaused by a resistance of the cathode.

The features, structures, and effects described in the presentdisclosure are included in at least one embodiment but are notnecessarily limited to a particular embodiment. A person skilled in theart can apply the features, structures, and effects illustrated in theparticular embodiment to another embodiment by combining or modifyingsuch features, structures, and effects. It should be understood that allsuch combinations and modifications are included within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the organic light-emittingdisplay device and the method of fabricating the same of the presentdisclosure without departing from the technical idea or scope of thedisclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover themodifications and variations of this disclosure provided they comewithin the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An organic light-emitting display device,comprising: a substrate defining an emission area and a non-emissionarea; an insulating layer on the substrate and having at least twogrooves being defined at a portion of the insulating layer correspondingto the non-emission area; a first electrode on the insulating layer at aportion of the insulating layer corresponding to the emission area; anauxiliary electrode on the insulating layer and spaced apart from thefirst electrode, the auxiliary electrode being on at least a portion ofthe insulating layer having the at least two grooves; a bank pattern onportions of the first and auxiliary electrodes; a barrier on theauxiliary electrode and separated from the bank pattern, the barrierbeing formed of a same material as the bank pattern; an organiclight-emitting layer on the first electrode; and a second electrode onthe organic light-emitting layer.
 2. The organic light-emitting displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the bank pattern and the barrierinclude an opaque organic material.
 3. The organic light-emittingdisplay device according to claim 2, wherein the opaque organic materialincludes a material cured by irradiation with light.
 4. The organiclight-emitting display device according to claim 1, wherein an uppersurface of the auxiliary electrode at a portion over the at least twogrooves has a surface shape substantially corresponding to an uppersurface of the insulating layer having the at least two grooves.
 5. Theorganic light-emitting display device according to claim 4, wherein theupper surface of the auxiliary electrode has a substantially flatportion at a region between the grooves.
 6. The organic light-emittingdisplay device according to claim 5, wherein the barrier is disposed onthe flat portion.
 7. The organic light-emitting display device accordingto claim 5, wherein the bank pattern has a normal tapered shape, and thebarrier has a reverse tapered shape.
 8. The organic light-emittingdisplay device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two grooveshave a depth between 1 μm and a thickness of the insulating layer. 9.The organic light-emitting display device according to claim 1, whereina material of the organic light-emitting layer is located on at least aportion of the auxiliary electrode over the at least two grooves. 10.The organic light-emitting display device according to claim 1, whereinthe bank pattern and the barrier have a normal tapered shape.
 11. Theorganic light-emitting display device according to claim 10, wherein thebank pattern, the barrier, and the auxiliary electrode have protrusionsextending over edge portions of the at least two grooves of theinsulating layer.
 12. The organic light-emitting display deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein each of the protrusions of the bankpattern and the barrier has a width greater than a width of theprotrusions of the auxiliary electrode.
 13. The organic light-emittingdisplay device according to claim 11, wherein the organic light-emittinglayer and the second electrode do not contact side surfaces of theprotrusions of the auxiliary electrode and do not contact side surfacesof the grooves of the insulating layer, wherein the organiclight-emitting display device further comprises an electrode layer onthe second electrode in contact with the second electrode, the electrodelayer contacting side and bottom surfaces of the auxiliary electrode,side surfaces of the grooves, and bottom surfaces of the protrusions ofthe bank pattern and the barrier.
 14. The organic light-emitting displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the at least two grooves have oneof a polygonal shape, a semicircular shape, and a semielliptical shape.15. The organic light-emitting display device according to claim 1,wherein a plurality of subpixels are defined on the substrate, and theauxiliary electrode includes a plurality of auxiliary electrodesrespectively corresponding to the plurality of subpixels.
 16. A methodof fabricating an organic light-emitting display device, the methodcomprising: providing an insulating layer on a substrate, the substratedefining an emission area and a non-emission area, and the insulatinglayer having at least two grooves at a portion of the insulating layercorresponding to a non-emission area of the substrate; providing a firstelectrode and an auxiliary electrode on the insulating layer, theauxiliary electrode being spaced apart from the first electrode andbeing on the insulating layer at a portion of the insulating layerhaving the at least two grooves; providing a bank pattern on portions ofthe first and auxiliary electrodes and a barrier on the auxiliaryelectrode; providing an organic light-emitting layer on the firstelectrode; and providing a second electrode on the organiclight-emitting layer.
 17. The method according to claim 16, whereinproviding the bank pattern and the barrier comprises: applying an opaqueorganic material on the substrate on which the first and auxiliaryelectrodes are provided; disposing a mask over the substrate having theopaque organic material such that a transmitting portion of the maskcorresponds to a portion of the opaque organic material on the first andauxiliary electrodes and a blocking portion of the mask corresponds to aremaining portion of the opaque organic material; irradiating the maskwith light; and developing the opaque organic material to provide thebank pattern having a normal tapered shape on the first electrode andthe barrier having a reverse tapered shape on the auxiliary electrode.18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the organic light-emittinglayer is provided by deposition or coating having linearity.
 19. Amethod of fabricating an organic light-emitting display device, themethod comprising: providing an insulating layer on a substrate, thesubstrate defining an emission area and a non-emission area; providing afirst electrode and an auxiliary electrode pattern on the insulatinglayer, the auxiliary electrode pattern being spaced apart from the firstelectrode; providing a bank pattern material on the first electrode andthe auxiliary electrode pattern; patterning the bank pattern materialwith a mask such that a bank pattern and a barrier are formed at aportion corresponding to a blocking portion of the mask, and theauxiliary electrode pattern is exposed at a portion corresponding to atransmitting portion of the mask; etching the exposed portion of theauxiliary electrode pattern using the bank pattern as a mask to providean auxiliary electrode and to expose a portion of the insulating layer;etching the insulating layer to form at least two grooves therein usingthe auxiliary electrode pattern as a mask; and removing a portion of thebank pattern to expose a portion of the first electrode; providing anorganic light-emitting layer on the exposed portion of the firstelectrode; and providing a second electrode on the organiclight-emitting layer.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, inthe patterning the bank pattern material with the mask, the bank patternmaterial is partially removed at a portion over the first electrodecorresponding to a semi-transmitting portion of the mask, therebydefining an emission area.